HPU News for October 2011

HPU News

HPU student honored at ‘Ride to Remember’ Nov. 20

October 27, 2011

Hawai‘i Pacific University graduate student and retired U.S. Navy Command Master Chief John David Tyner, who died in a multi-vehicle accident March 31, will be honored at a special “Ride to Remember” Nov. 20. Proceeds benefit the David Tyner Memorial Scholarship for Diplomacy and Military Studies at HPU. (Courtesy photo)

HONOLULU — Hawai‘i Pacific University graduate student John David Tyner, who died in a multi-vehicle accident March 31, will be honored at a special “Ride to Remember” Nov. 20.

The motorcycle ride in memory of the retired Navy Command Master Chief will benefit the David Tyner Memorial Scholarship for Diplomacy and Military Studies at HPU. The event is sponsored by the Naval Information Operations Command (NIOC) Hawaii Chief Petty Officers Association and HPU.

Tyner was a Waipahu resident who served 29 years in the Navy and retired in 2007. He instructed submarine engineers at Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard and was working on his M.A.D.M.S. degree at HPU. He was two classes short of completing his degree, which was conferred posthumously.

“David Tyner was a true hero to his country, a top-notch scholar and a wonderful person to know,” said Dr. Justin Vance, Assistant Professor of History at HPU. “Please join me in thanking his wife Mary Tyner, the other initial donors, and HPU staff and faculty, for getting this scholarship under way and showing your support of it by getting out to ride.”

There are opportunities to participate, either as a rider or passenger. There is also a “virtual rider” option for those who do not ride but still want to participate.

Donations are accepted for the scholarship, which will assist graduate students pursuing an M.A. in Diplomacy and Military Studies at HPU. For more information about the David Tyner Memorial Scholarship, contact Margi Ulveling, Associate Vice President, Alumni and University Relations, at 544-0273 or email mulveling@hpu.edu.

The ride, scheduled to begin at 8 a.m., will take riders from Moanalua Gardens to along the H-1 Freeway, past Makapu‘u to Sandy Beach. It will then wind through Waimanalo and go through the Ko‘olau Mountains, via the H-3 Freeway to Keaiwa Heiau State Park in Aiea. It will wind back to H-1, north on the H-2 Freeway and then to South Seas Motorcycles in Waipahu, via Kunia Road. The total route is 75 miles and is expected to take a leisurely three hours. South Seas Motorcycles will provide lunch at the last stop. The event will feature live music, door prizes and a raffle.

Vance said there are many volunteer opportunities.

“We need at least 20 volunteers to assist with set-up, tear-down, event check-in and sitting at each of the stops. Volunteers at the stops — Sandy Beach and Aiea Loop — will assist with providing water to the riders,” Vance said. “We'd also like a couple of photographers who would be willing to donate their time to take pictures of the riders.”

For more event information and registration forms, visit www.thestrategicallies.com/ridetoremember/ or email ridetoremember2011@gmail.com with questions or to volunteer. Vance can be reached at jvance@hpu.edu or 543-8096.